Tom Behrens has over 50 years experience in fishing and hunting across the United States. Much of this time was spent in Oklahoma and Texas where he became very familiar with the outdoor opportunities in these states. You may contact him by email at: tomdoglover29@aol.com

Every year, the department issues more than 2.4 million hunting and fishing licenses through the agency’s 28 field offices, more than 50 state parks, at over 1,700 retailers across the state and online at www.tpwd.texas.gov/buy.

All revenue generated from hunting and fishing license fees pays for conservation efforts and recreational opportunities that help make Texas one of the best places in the country to hunt and fish. Fish stocking, wildlife management, habitat restoration, public hunting leases, river access permits and Texas Game Wardens are just some of the initiatives funded in part by license fees.

Texans can also enter Big Time Texas Hunts drawing when purchasing their license. Big Time Texas Hunts offers the chance to win any of nine exciting premium guided hunt packages, with all lodging and food included. Many also allow the winners to bring friends along to hunt.

There are packages to hunt bighorn sheep, mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, alligator, waterfowl, upland game birds, wild hog and exotics. Big Time Texas Hunts entries are available online for $9 each at www.tpwd.texas.gov/buyentry or for $10 each at license retailers or by phone at (800) 895-4248.

TPWD will also be awarding Lifetime Super Combo Licenses to three lucky winners through the Lifetime License Drawing. Winners will never need to buy another Texas hunting or fishing license. Participants can enter for $5 per entry at license retailers or online at www.tpwd.texas.gov/licensedraw.

The first entry deadline for the three monthly drawings is Sept. 30 with the first winner drawn on October 2. Any entries not drawn will be automatically included in the next drawings on November 1 and December 1.

Hunters and anglers can also support two worthwhile causes when they buy their hunting or fishing license by making voluntary donations of $1, $5, $10 or $20 to help support the “Feeding Texas’ Hunters for the Hungry” program or the Veterans Commission’s Veterans Assistance Fund.

Donations to the Hunters for the Hungry program provides hunters with a way to donate legally harvested deer to participating processors, and this processed meat goes to local food banks to feed Texas families in need. Last year, hunters and anglers generously donated $106,913 through the TPWD licensing system, which helped offset a percentage of the processing fees for food banks and made it possible for more Texas families in need to enjoy this quality protein source.

Donations to the Texas Veterans Commission Fund for Veterans’ Assistance (FVA) program provide grants to veteran service organizations and nonprofit charitable institutions that assist veterans and their families at the community level throughout Texas. In its first year in 2017 license buyers generously contributed $193,903 in donations from Texas hunting and fishing license purchasers.

Hunters and anglers can get their new 2017-2018 hunting and fishing licenses and special drawing entries or Big Time Texas Hunts entries online at www.tpwd.texas.gov/buy, at license retailers or by phone at (800) 895-4248. The online transaction system is available 24/7.

Call center hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is a required $5 administrative fee for each phone or online transaction, but multiple items can be purchased during a single transaction occasion for this $5 fee. All of these license sales outlets will offer the opportunity to make a donation to help veterans and/or families in need of food.

Hunting and fishing regulations for the new season can be found in the 2017-2018 Outdoor Annual, available in print form at license retailers, online at www.outdoorannual.com and in the free Outdoor Annual mobile app available for both Apple and Android devices and updated with regulations for the new season on Aug. 15.

To get more information on hunting and fishing throughout the year, hunters and anglers are invited to sign up for free email updates at www.tpwd.texas.gov/email or by texting TPWD HUNT or TPWD FISH and their email address to GOV311 (ex. TPWD HUNT myemail@emailaddress.com).

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